Bell's stellar start spoiled

Trevor Bell (Crescenta Valley High, 2005) pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Though he didn't get a decision, Bell turned in his finest performance of the season, and possibly his short career, on Tuesday night against the host Baltimore Orioles.

Making his second start of the season, Bell, a former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year, allowed just two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in the Angels' 6-3 loss. Bell threw 78 pitches, 52 for strikes, and struck out five in front of 16,723 at Camden Yards.

With the Angels clinging to a 2-1 lead, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia pulled Bell and brought in Francisco Rodriguez with a runner on first. Luke Scott then hit a two-run home run to right to give the Orioles a 3-2 advantage. Baltimore scored two more runs in the inning to make it 5-2.

Bell, whose earned-run average is 5.90, retired the side in order in the first and second innings. The right-hander struck out Nick Markakis and All-Star Ty Wigginton consecutively in the first. He allowed just two hits through the first four innings.

Bell's first start of the season came July 25 against the Texas Rangers, in which he took the loss. Bell was then sent to Triple-A Salt Lake on July 26 and recalled Friday, when he pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the Angels' 9-7 home victory against the Rangers.

Bell, who was taken in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, is 1-2 on the year. In 29 innings, Bell has struck out 23 and allowed 20 runs and 43 hits. Fifteen of his 17 appearances this season have been out of the bullpen.

The Angels, who began a six-game road trip Tuesday that will conclude Sunday at Detroit, fell to 54-54 on the season.

Freddy Sanchez (Glendale Community College, 1998) second baseman, San Francisco Giants: Sanchez, who won the 2006 National League batting championship, hit his second home run of the season in San Francisco's 10-0 road win against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Sanchez, a three-time National League All-Star, hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give the red-hot Giants a 7-0 lead. He later came through with a single in the ninth. Through Tuesday, Sanchez is batting .264 (68 for 254) with 29 runs batted in.

It marked the first time in 36 games that Sanchez homered. His previous one came June 20 at Toronto. He's registered nine doubles, one triple and scored 32 runs in 65 games.

Sanchez, who spent the first part of the season on the disabled list, has hit safely in six of his last 11 contests. He came through with multiple-hit performances against the visiting Florida Marlins on July 26 and 27.

He's flourished on defense, as he's yet to commit an error this season. He's recorded 139 assists and 125 putouts.

The Giants are 62-45 and in second place in the National League's West Division behind the San Diego Padres. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games.

Doug Slaten (Glendale Community College, 1999) relief pitcher, Washington Nationals: Slaten, a left-hander, pitched for the first time against his former team Tuesday night. Making his first appearance in Arizona since being claimed on waivers in November by the Washington Nationals, Slaten pitched scoreless ball over 1 2/3 innings in a 6-1 loss.

Slaten, who helped Arizona advance to the National League Championship Series in 2007, struck out two and allowed a pair of hits. He uncorked 24 pitches, 16 for strikes. His earned-run average dropped from 3.68 to 3.42.